Zelenskyy and Slovak PM hold call amid Druzhba dispute: First details emerge
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Robert Fico (president.gov.ua)
Today, February 27, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is holding talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, according to the Office of the President.
Read also: Like addicts: Ukrainian MFA responds to Orbán and Fico’s criticism over Russian oil
"Right now, the President is talking to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. The President is inviting him to Ukraine to discuss all the issues at hand," the statement says.
Background
Today, February 27, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke with Robert Fico. He said that both Prime Ministers disagree that it is impossible to resume the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline due to technical problems.
In this regard, Hungary and Slovakia want to create a so-called investigative commission and are demanding that Zelenskyy grant them access to the facility.
According to Orbán, the commission's task is to verify the reality of the situation claimed by Ukraine. He adds that the closure of Druzhba threatens the energy security of both countries.
Oil supplies via Druzhba pipeline
On February 12, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced that Russia had attacked the Druzhba oil pipeline. Oil transit to Slovakia and Hungary then stopped.
Budapest and Bratislava then began to blame Ukraine for everything. According to the Hungarian and Slovak authorities, Ukraine does not want to resume transit for political reasons.
Last week, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened to stop electricity supplies to Ukraine. These threats came amid a very difficult situation with the electricity supply in Ukraine due to constant Russian attacks.
On Monday, February 23, Fico announced that Slovakia was suspending emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine, despite the extremely difficult situation in the country due to Russian attacks.
